First Malaysian in space: Computer glitch sends Soyuz 340km off target

By : Anis Ibrahim reporting from Baikonur

ANGKASAWAN Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor returned to Earth safely yesterday.

After spending 11 days in space, he was the second man to come out of the Soyuz TMA-10 craft after Fyodor Yurchikhin. The third person to emerge from the capsule was Oleg Kotov.

The Soyuz landed 340km west of the designated site at 6.37pm.

Search and rescue plans were upgraded because of the ballistic entry of the Soyuz into the Earth's atmosphere.

Yurchikhin reported that the ballistic entry was triggered by onboard computers, resulting in a steeper descent and, thus, the off-course landing.
The spacecraft deviated from its intended landing spot after a problem during the descent. But it landed safely and the crew was unharmed, said Russian Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin.

Russian search and rescue teams quickly located the craft. One helicopter was already on the ground when the Soyuz landed. Twenty minutes after landing, the crew was extracted from the craft. The medical team, which examined the crew, reported that they were in good health.

Among those at the Mission Control Centre in Moscow keeping tabs on the Soyuz were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.

High-ranking officials from the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, including its director, Anatoli Perminov, were also present, together with Dr Muszaphar's parents, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor and Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad.

Najib told a press conference that he and all Malaysians were happy that Dr Muszaphar had landed safely.

"This is a very momentous and historic occasion for Malaysia. It will go down in the annals of our history because this is a first for Malaysia in space and he has returned safely.

"The entire mission will be a landmark voyage for Malaysia."

He expressed his gratitude to Perminov, Roscosmos, the Russian and Kazakhstan governments, Nasa, the European Space Agency and other organisations which supported the angkasawan project.

"We have shown that this is a good example of an international collaborative mission. This space collaboration opens up many new opportunities in the future."

He said Malaysia would undertake an in-depth study of the success of the mission, not only in terms of how the local man fared physically but also the scientific experiments carried out in space.

"There are benefits we have reaped from the mission. The tangible benefits would be ascertained from our analysis of the scientific experiments conducted and results achieved and whether they would lead to commercialisation.

"The intangible benefit is, as a nation, Malaysians feel very proud that we can stand a few inches taller now that we have had a Malaysian travel in space."

Najib said he hoped the project would inspire present and future generations to strive for greater endeavours in all fields.